Ore-distributer.



No. 855,744. PATENTBD JUNE 4, 1907.

P. ARGALL- ORE DISTRIBUTER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY1'8, 1906- 4 SHEETS-BEBE? 1.

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PATENTBD JUNE 4, 1907.

P. ARGALL. ORB DISTRIBUTER. APPLICATION IILED mm, 1900.

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witmmoea UNITED STATES P rEN'r OFFICE.

PHILIP ARGALL, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

ORE-DISTRIBUTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1907.

Application filed May 18,1906. Serial No. 317,485.

ore or other pulverulent material and its distribution in regular andeven layers in tanks or vats for treatment, and more particularly to theconveying and distribution of metalhferous sands or res in thelixiviationdepartments of cyanid plants, where the tanks are usuallycircular and arranged in one Or more straight lines, so that they can befilled from cars passing successively over them, or from a belt conveyerarranged along the center line of the tanks and dumping the ore atintervals into them, whence ordinarily it is shoveled from the centertoward the sides and leveled by hand labor. These sands have also beendistributed by fans, somewhat similar to those used in distributinggrain, such being mounted on a traveling bridge spanning the tanks,whence the sand is showered over the tanks, the fans being driven athigh speed. The objection to such means, apart from its high initial andOperating cost is that ittends to both size and concentratethe ore, theheavier particles passing toward the pe riphery and the lighter andfiner particles falling near the center of the tanks. 'Ihissizing andpartial concentration of the ore is quite objectionable in the treatmentof high grade ores, and moreover suitable electric power to operate sucha distributer is not Often available.

These deficiencies in the art have led to the present improvements, theobject of which is to provide a simple and ellicient a paratus, operatedmechanically, which shall convey and automatically distribute, over aseries of tanksybins or vats, in regular and even layers, well mixed andhomogeneous, the pulverulent ores or metalliferous sands with which itis required to fill them. To this end I arrange a single belt conveyerOver the series of tanks, parallel with and adjacentto the central linethereof, usually suspended from the roof timbers, but the ways and trackfor the conveyer and trip ers may be supported from the tank founations, or in any other suitable manner. Belt conveyers and selfpropelling trippers to dump the ore off the belt at any giyen pointwithin the range consists primarily in the addition to the tripper ofautomatic means for evenly conveying and distributing from the tripperwhen located over the center of agiven tank the pulverulent materialfrom the center to the circumference in even non-concentrated layers,said means being preferably actuated by the same power which propels thetrippers. Its leading elements are a vertical rotatory shaft operated atslow speed preferably from the belt wheel of the trippers at the bottomof which shaft a short horizontal belt conveyer, which I call the radialdistributer, of a radius to suit the size of the tank, rotates with theshaft and at the same time moves from the center outward by itsconveying portion to move the ores radially outward to all parts,-suitable means being provided to cause the radial distributer to dumpits load in definite proportions as it travels outward, in such relativequantities as to insure an even distribution of the ore throughout thewhole area of the tank from center to periphery.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 shows themovable tripper on its ways supported from the roof timbers, thevertical shaft of the radial (llS tributer mechanism being central overone of the tanks in the line of the series, and the belt distributerextending horizontally from the center to the circumference of the tank.Fig. 2 shows a side View of the movable tripper on its ways, the mainconveyer belt by which it is driven, the vertical shaft (the sustainingsleeve being omitted for clearness), and the mechanism of the radialdistributer in end View. Fig. 3 shows the mechanism of the radialdistributer in enlarged View, the head wheel with the gear connectionsby which the radial distributer is operated from the main conveyer belt,the chute for conveying the dumped ore to the radial distributer, andthe details of the mechanism of said radial distributer. Fig. 4 shows inplan a line of circular tanks with the main conveyer belt located overthe same, near the central line, the position of a radial distributercen- .tral over one of the tanks, and the outer straight rail forsupporting the outer end of the radial distributer in shifting from onetank to another. Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the head wheel, themechanism which conveys motion froni it to the radial distributer, andthe means for engaging and disengaging shaft of the radial distributor,driven referi said mechanism. Fig. 6 shows in side view adjustabledeflectors which serve to remove the load of ore from the radialdistributer belt in measured quantity, with the angular diffusing plateswhich spread the ore evenly in its fall. Fig. 7 shows the saiddeflectors in plan view over the radial distributer belt. Fig. 8 is aplan view of the rectangular spider frame secured to foot of rotatoryvertical shaft 5, showing the means for supporting the short uprightrevolving shaft, and for sustaining the pivoted member which carries theradial distributer belt.

1 is the main conveyer belt, driven from a source not herein shown,passing in a sinuous curve around head wheel 2 and bottom wheel 25 ofthe movable trip er, which latter derives its motion to and fro on itsways in the usual manner from said belt, through ears not shown becauseforming no part 0 the present invention.

3 is the shaft of head wheel 2, divided into two sections 3 and 3 byclutch 4, by means of which the two sections are connected anddisconnected at will. 5 is the vertical rotatory ably from said headwheel by vsuitab e gear connections, with means to engage and disengagesaid connections. There must also be a provision to lock said gears in afixed position when the head wheel is disconnected, as when thetripper-carriage is to be moved from tank to tank. The form of gearingwhich I have chosen for illustration, and which I prefer on account ofits simplicity, is the worm 6 on shaft 3, meshing with worm wheel 7 onvertical shaft 5, which forms an efiicient lock against movement whendisconnected, thus precluding the necessity for separate locking means,which however I may employ when other forms of gearing are resorted to.

8 is a thrust collar which supports the weight of the rotatory verticalshaft 5 and connected mechanism on the bottom member 9 of the tripper,said shaft being channeled at 35 to engage corresponding bearingsinseparable collar 36, which afiords a seat for the rotatory shaft onthrust collar 8.

10 is a fixed gear wheel bolted to the bottom of the tripper carriage tomesh with a pinion 11 on short upright shaft 37, which is carried aroundby the vertical. shaft 5 inits revolutions, and is at the same timerotated, imparting motion to .distrib'uter belt 1.2 through bevel gears13, 14, sprocket wheels 15, 16, drive chain 17, and driving wheel 18.The upright shaft 37 with its attachmentsis supported. as follows: is arectangular spider frame firmly secured to the foot of the verticalshaft 5 and rotates withit. To the top of this spider frame is securedthe'hopper 23, and to its bottom is secured the hopper 24, both hoppersrotating with the frame and with the vertical shaft. A bracket arm 57extends outward from this frame carrying a tributer belt 12 sleeve 58 inwhich the short upright shaft 37 is revolubly supported, with its gearattachments. The member 56 is also pivotally-secured to frame 55 bybolts 20, and carries the inner extremity of the radial distributor orconveyer, the conveyer belt of which is mounted on frame 38, whichcarries at its extremity the tail pulley 19, preferably mounted intake-up boxes to permit adjustment of the belt tension. There is anextension 29 on the frame 38 (shown in Fig. 1), carrying a wheel orwheels 39 traveling 'on circular rail 40 and straight rail 26 to supportthe outer end of the radial distributer, and aid it to pass from onetank to another in shifting the position of said distributor. Also tosupport the outer end of the distributer by its wheeled carriage on therailed edge 40 of the tank, on which it travels as it revolves. Saidstraight rail is located at the outer edge of the circular tanks in linefor the purpose .of sustaining the wheeled carriage 39 as it travelsfrom one tank to another. The member 56 pivoted on frame 55 and rotatingwith vertical shaft 5 sustains the main weight of the radial distributerand actuating mechanism and transfers it to the tripper carriage andsupporting rails 50 by means of thrust collar 8 and separable collar 36.This joint permits the outer end of the distribute'r to seek a freebearing on the circular rail 40 by its wheeled carriage, and thusproperly divide the weight between the vertical shaft and the outer railor rails in spite of any irregularity.

2-1, 22 is a branched chute for delivery of theme from the ma n belt tohopper 23 of the radial distributer. Of said chute the branch 21 is theone ordinarily in use, the branch 22'being only for use in an emergencywhile the radial distributer is being adjusted- A gate 51 is provided tocut off the branch not in use, and the branch 22 is hinged as at 52 toavoid contact with the framework when in transit: Beams 30 and 31suspend from the roof timbers and sustain the weight of the way beams 27and track rails 50 for the traveling tripper. Saidways and rails arelocated longitudinally over the line of tanks, so as to bring thevertical shaft of the distributer over the center of each tank insuccession.

32 are rollers on member 38 to support dis- 33 are adjustable deflectorsprovisionally afixed to member 38 to extend over said belt 12 atsuitable intervals, in such manner as to deflect over the side of thebelt at various points a proportional quantity of ore to insure uniformdistribution through: out the tank 34 are adjustable diffusing'plateslocated on sides of frame 38 to spread the falling ore and contribute toits equal distribution.

28 is one of the tanks of the series, shown in section.

The operation is as follows: The self propelling tripper having beenbrought over the center of one tank of the series, pulverulent materialis fed on to the moving main conveyer belt, and carried over the headwheel of the trip er in the usual manner, but instead'of fal ing in aheap in the center of the tank as heretofore, to be distributed by moreor less skilled hand labor, this invention provides for its reception bynovel mechanism which insures its equal distribution from the centeroutward to the periphery of the tank by automatic means. The tripperbeing placedin fixed position centrally over the tank, as above stated,and the distributer mechanism being thrown into gear, the stream ofpulverulent ore enters a hopper. (23) whence it drops through the armsof the spider frame 55 and passes to a deflecting ho per (24) whichshoots it onto the distri uter belt in the direction of its travel,which is from the center of the tank outward. On its way suitable meansremove from the belt at various points definite proportions of thematerial to evenly distribute it throughout the area of the tank as thedistributer belt slowly rotates, the two simul taneous movements,circular and radial, thus covering every point of the tank surface withits due proportion of material Without the requirement of any thought orskill, in a manner vastly superior to the results of hand labor. I Whenone tank is properly filled the ore supply is shut ofi from the mainbelt, the.

distributer mechanism is thrown out of gear, and the tripper is moved bythe usual means to the center of the next tank of the series. Beforemoving, care is taken in each case to set and lock the radialdistributer belt frame at right angles to the line of travel, the outerend of said frame being supported by wheel carriage 39 pn the straightrail 26, whereby its transit is facilitated. Having taken its newposition the ore supply is turned on, the radial distributer mechanismis thrown into gear, and the filling recommences.

Various means may be employed to re move-the material in graduatedquantities from the distributer belt, which readily suggest themselves,but for purposes of illustrationI have shown the adjustable deflectors33 and the angular diffusing plates 34 as a simple and easily appliedmeans, to which however I do not confine myself. The essential inventionlies in the automatic means for radial and equable distribution ofpulverulent material in a circular tank of a series, in cooperation withthe mechanism which delivers the said material to the trippier and movesthe tripper from place to ace. p I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent: f

1. In an ore distributer, means for carrying pulverulent material to arequired point, a conveyer mounted to receive said material asdischarged, and to rotate angularly in a horizontal plane about saidpoint of discharge, means to rotate said. conveyer in said plane, meansto cause a longitudinal travel of said conveyer simultaneously with.said rotation, whereby the material is moved radially from the center,and means connected with said conveyer for removing material therefromduring its outward travel, substantially as specified.-

2. In an ore distributer, a main conveyer for carrying pulverulentmaterial, an endless belt conveyer mounted to receive the discharge fromsaid main conveyer and to rotate angularly in a horizontal plane, meansto rotate said belt conveyerin said plane,

means to cause a longitudinal travel of said proportionalquantities'during its outward travel, substantially as specified.

4. In an ore distributer, a main conveyer belt, a movable trippercarriage, a head wheel for said belt, on said carriage, a verticalrotatory shaft borne on said carriage, with gear connections to saidhead wheel, a horizontal distributer belt borne by said vertical shaft,at its foot, rotating with the same,

mechanism to give progressive radial move 'ment to said distributer beltwhile rotatmg with the shaft, and means for removing at intervalsportions. of the material earned on said distributer belt, substantiallyas' speclfied; I r

5. In an ore distributer, a main conveyer belt for the conveyance ofpulverulent ore,

a tripper carria e mounted movably on track ways, a hea wheel on saidcarriage re ceiving motion from said conveyer belt, a vertical rotatoryshaft on said carriage mechanically connectedwith said head wheel, ahorizontal distributer belt borne by said vertical shaft at its 'foot,and rotating with it, means for giving .pro 'ressive radial moveme t tosaid distributer beIt while rotating with said shaft, means fordelivering pulverulent material from said conveyer belt to thedistributer belt t a, point near to the center of rotation, and meansfor deflecting portions of said material off from said distributer beltat various points, substantially as specified.

6. In an ore distributer, a tripper carriage mounted movably ontrackways, a head -wheel on said carriage, a vertical rotatory headwheel, for delivering ore to the tripper,

a chute for receivin the dumped ore, a ho per near the vertical shaftfor delivering tffe dumped ore to the distributer belt, and means forremoving the ore from the dis tributer belt in portions as it travelsradially outward, substantially as specified.

7. In an ore distributer, a main conveyer belt, a tripper carriagemounted movably on trackways, a head wheel on said carriage driven bysaid conveyer belt, a vertical rotatory shaft on saidcarriagemechanically connected with said head wheel, clutch mechanismbetween said head wheel and said vertical shaft for engaging anddisengaging the connections between the same, means for locking thevertical rotatory shaft and connections in a fixed position when out ofgear with the head wheel, a horizontal radial distributer belt carriedby the vertical shaft at its foot, rotatin with said shaft, and meansfor operating said distributer belt as a radial carrier while rotatingwith said vertical shaft, substantially as specified.

8. In an ore distributer, a main conveyer belt, a tripper carriagemounted movably on trackways, a head wheel on 'said carriage driven bysaid belt, a vertical rotatory shaft on said carriage, interveningmechanism between said head wheel and said vertical shaft through whichthe latter is operated, a radial distributer belt carried on saidvertical shaft and rotating with it, means for operating saiddistributer belt radially while rotating, and anti-friction means forsupporting the outer end of the radial distributer belt in its travel,substantially as specified.

9. In an ore distributer, a main conveyer;

belt, a tripper carriage mounted movably on trackways, a head wheel onsaid carriage over which said belt runs and discharges, a verticalrotatory shaft on said carria e connected operatively with said head weel, a horizontal distributer belt at the foot of said vertical shaft,rotating with it, means for operating said distributer belt radiallywhile rotating, and adjustable deflectors located near ahorizontalplane, means for operating said distributer belt radiallywhile rotating, deflectors located near said radially moving distributerbelt at intervals to remove rescribed portions of the material carriesaid belt, and diffusing plates located to intercept the fallingmaterial and spread it equably over the surface beneath, substantiallyas specified.

11. In an ore distributer, in combination with a series of circulartanks in line, a main conveyer belt located over said line, a trackwayfor a tripper. carriage over said line of tanks, a tripper carriagemounted movably on said trackways, a head wheel on said tri per carriagedriven by said main belt, a ra ially movable distributer belt mounted onsaid carriage to rotate in a horizontal plane, mechanism for rotatingthe same, connected with said head wheel, means for operating thedistributer belt radially while rotating, and means for defl'ectinprescribed portions of ore carried on said stantially as specified.

12. In an ore distributer, a movable tripper carria e, a verticalrotatory shaft there on, a fixe gear wheel concentric with said verticalrotatory shaft, a short upright shaft connected with said verticalrotatory shaft so as to be carriedaround by it as it revolves, a' pinionon said short upright shaft meshing with said fixed gear wheel, wherebysaid short shaft is rotated while revolving, a horizontal distributerbelt at the foot of said vertical shaft, revolving around and with it,and intermediate gearing between said short upright shaft and saiddistributer belt whereby the latter receives radial motion from theformer while carried around in a circular sweep bythe rotation of saidvertical shaft, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

1 PHILIP ARGALL.- Witnesses:

JAMEs A. MCOLURG,

L. R; Soo'rr.

istributer belt, sub- 1

